The upcoming KBS2 drama I Took the Male Lead's First Night, starring Girls’ Generation’s Seohyun and 2PM’s Taecyeon, has landed in hot water for allegedly damaging a UNESCO World Heritage Site during filming.

Architect Min Seo Hong sparked the controversy after visiting Byeongsan Seowon on December 30 and witnessing questionable actions by the drama’s production team. He shared his account on social media on January 2, posting photos of the filming setup.

Min explained, "I visited Byeongsan Seowon and saw staff hammering nails into the wooden pillars of Mandaeru to hang lights. Props were scattered across the site, and production vehicles filled the area. When I questioned the staff, they dismissively said they had permission from Andong City."

He added, "Even in traditional Korean houses, people hesitate to hammer nails. Greater care should be taken with cultural heritage. This isn’t something that can be brushed off just because approval was given."

Despite Min reporting the incident to Andong City’s cultural heritage office and media outlets, filming continued as planned. His criticism also raised questions about whether cultural heritage sites should even be used as filming locations.

The production team of I Took the Male Lead's First Night responded, stating, "We are currently investigating the situation".

The drama, set to air soon, is a fantasy romance about a college student whose soul ends up in the body of a minor character in a romance novel. With an obsessive male lead, the plot promises chaos and excitement.

While fans are excited to see Seohyun and Taecyeon in this unique story, the controversy surrounding the filming location has sparked heated discussions online, with many calling for stricter rules to protect cultural heritage sites.

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Actor Song Kang Ho shocked fans by revealing the surprising reason he initially turned down the iconic role in Joint Security Area (JSA).

On February 4, the movie JSA was celebrated as a "Visionary" work at a special GV (Guest Visit) event for CJ ENM’s 30th anniversary at CGV Yongsan I'Park Mall in Seoul. The event was attended by director Park Chan-wook and stars like Song Kang Ho, Lee Byung Hun, Lee Young Ae, Kim Tae Woo, and Ko Kyung Beom, who shared stories from the making of the film.

Joint Security Area, a groundbreaking film by director Park Chan-wook, tells the story of North and South Korean soldiers caught in a tragic incident at the border, highlighting the human side of the divided nations. The film has been widely praised for changing the perception of inter-Korean relations and is seen as a key moment in Korean cinema.

During the event, Song Kang Ho admitted that he turned down the JSA script at first, saying, "The script was just too perfect. It was so well-written and tightly woven that I couldn’t believe it. I thought, ‘Is this really Korean cinema at this level?’ I felt it was too good, and I figured the movie wouldn’t live up to the script."

He also mentioned that at the time, Park Chan-wook’s previous films hadn’t done well, which made him even more doubtful. "But after meeting the director, I started to trust him," Song Kang Ho added.

Reflecting on the film 20 years later, Song Kang Ho joked, "I was flipping through channels and watched JSA again. I thought, ‘There was a time when I wasn’t envious of Lee Byung Hun,’ but he looked so handsome and cool back then." He continued, laughing, "One thing about Park Chan-wook's films is that they have a depth and elegance that you just can’t forget. It’s probably why his new movie is called I Can’t Help It."

Song Kang Ho also spoke fondly of reuniting with his JSA co-stars after 25 years. He shared, "We didn’t watch the film together, but we had a cozy two-hour dinner. After all this time, it felt nostalgic. It was heartwarming to sit together again and reminisce about the past. It really made me realize how meaningful these moments are."

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